Although Congress has still been on recess this week, there has been some legislative activity. On April 6, House Republicans on the Committee on Education and Workforce introduced a bill that would reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). In response to the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget request, we are requesting at least a $50 million increase in funding for the Perkins Act and encourage you to ask your Members of Congress to support education and workforce development funding in FY 2027. One specific way to do this is by asking your senators to sign the “Dear Colleague “ letter being circulated by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). The letter request additional CTE funding for FY 2027, and senators have until April 17 to sign. Read more policy updates below!  

• House Education and Workforce Republicans Introduce Bill to Reauthorize WIOA: On April 6, House Republicans on the Committee on Education and Workforce introduced a bill that would reauthorize WIOA. Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) is the lead sponsor of the bill titled “A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026.” Read more details of the bill here.  

• Ask Your Members of Congress to Support Education and Workforce Development Funding in the FY 2027 Appropriations Process: On April 3, the Trump Administration released its FY 2027 budget request. The Administration requested level funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act state grants; however, it also proposed a number of cuts to other education and workforce development programs. Ask your Members of Congress to support education and workforce development funding in FY 2027 here!  

• ACTE and Advance CTE Submit Recommendations on Workforce Pell Regs: Our organization, along with Advance CTE, submitted joint comments in response to the proposed regulations on the implementation of Workforce Pell. Over 400 comments were received by the April 8 deadline this week, which the Department will now review.  

• Federal Judge Halts Collection of Admissions Data: On April 3, a federal judge halted the requirement for postsecondary institutions to submit detailed admissions data to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The Trump Administration requested the data collection to examine if institutions were considering race in their admissions decisions.  

• Trump Administration Unveils Potential Changes to Accreditation: On April 6, the Trump Administration released proposed accreditation rule changes, with a focus on expanding regulations regarding viewpoint and ideological diversity among faculty as well as religious and speech protections.  

• ED Celebrates National Community College Month: On April 7, ED proclaimed April 2026 as National Community College Month, outlining the agency’s efforts to connect educational and workforce opportunities.  

• New America & ACCT Invite Community Colleges to Apply for Work-Based Learning Capacity-Building Cohort: New America’s Future of Work & Innovation Economy initiative (FOWIE) and the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT)’s Center for Policy & Practice invite community college presidents and trustees to apply to participate in a Work-Based Learning Capacity-Building Cohort. Selected colleges will receive $20,000, technical assistance, peer learning opportunities, and access to subject matter experts between June 2026 and December 2027, with optional opportunities to follow. Applications are due May 8, 2026.   

• ED and DOL Launch Teacher and Literacy Grant Competitions: On April 8, ED and the Department of Labor (DOL) launched their first grant competitions under the Elementary and Secondary Education Partnership between the two agencies. The two grant competitions are focused on developing high-quality literacy programs and improving or expanding performance-based compensation systems or human capital management systems for teachers and administrators.  

• U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Visits Two States on National Tour: This week, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited South Dakota and Nebraska as part of a national tour. In South Dakota, she toured classrooms focused on agriculture education and workforce development. In Nebraska, she toured the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to learn how the university is expanding career pathways, as well as Southeast Community College to celebrate National Community College Month.     

• House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Scott Pushes ED to Protect Students in Workforce Pell Expansion: On April 9, Ranking Member Robert Scott of the House Education and Workforce Committee published this letter urging Secretary McMahon to strengthen oversight and accountability in response to ED’s proposed Workforce Pell Grant rule. Scott emphasized that expanding Pell Grants to short-term programs must include strong safeguards to prevent institutional abuse and ensure program quality.    

• New SHEEO Report on Postsecondary Funding: A new report from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) found that while states invested a record amount of money for postsecondary education in FY25, per-student funding experienced its first decrease since 2012 – a 1% decline.